Interview with Makoto Shinkai, Animation Director
Astonish the World with the “Japan’s Landscape” Perhaps one of the distinctive characteristics of the animated movie director Makoto Shinkai is that for all the movies he has been involved in to date, including his best-known work “5 Centimeters Per Second” (2007), he has doubled up as original creator, script writer, editor, cinematographer, and director […]
Aichi Triennale, a City-type Art Festival in Japan
Inside Look at Aichi Triennale There are many different art festivals in Japan. The most famous one is probably the Triennale in Naoshima. It attracts many tourists from Japan and abroad. Naoshima is an island in the Seto Inland Sea, and its scenic beauty is one of the best things about it, but there are […]
Revitalization of Marginalized Communities in Japan through the Arts
Art Festival in Setonaikai (Seto Inland Sea) On a scorching summer day, Ogijima, a small island with about 160 residents was besieged by a swarm of tourists. Local residents were surprised but nonetheless gladdened to see so many strangers. “I rarely see people outside of my island. But they are very welcome,” said one islander, […]
How Much Pocket Money Do the Japanese Receive Each Month?
Source: April, 2019 survey of 1,000 full-time male workers ages 20-59 by the Shinsei Bank, Limited The Shinsei Bank, which conducts an annual survey about discretionary spending by wage-earners, found that the average “allowance” among salarymen this year was 38,457 yen ($384) --- the lowest since 1982 (when it was 34,100 yen, or $341). While […]
What Do Japanese Eat for Breakfast?
Why do the Japanese prefer bread to rice? Source: Survey of 2,137 married women ages 20-60 conducted in April, 2018 In a survey on the breakfast habits of married women ranging from those in their 20s through their 60s, more than half responded that they prefer a meal based on bread or bread products, with […]
Confidentiality and Information Exchange in Japanese Companies
How to Use Email Properly in a Japanese Business Email is an indispensable tool for business. However, its usage may be a little different in Japan than in other countries. Do you use reply for all? In Japan, replying to everyone is the norm. Why do you think that is? By P. Pringle Recent News […]
Long-seller Products in Japan
Beloved by Japanese Consumers for a Long Time Each December in Japan, the previous year’s most popular and successful examples consumer marketing are introduced as hitto shohin (“hit products”) in the Nikkei Ryutsu Shimbun (Nikkei Marketing Journal) and other media. While it’s great publicity to have one’s company credited with having generated a new hit […]
RUNNING Culture in Japan
The country has always had a strong tradition in distance running. Long before I moved here I noticed when watching the Olympics coverage, very disciplined Japanese runners were among the leading packs in the distance races. Years ago, I became fascinated with the uniquely Japanese ekiden (long‐distance relay road race) culture, more of which is […]
Transforming Closed Schools into Data Centers in Fukushima, Japan
Utilizing Abandoned School for PC Education By Ryoji Shimada, staff writer Nestled on a forested hillside about 100km distant from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, the former Akasawa primary school in Aizumisato Town, Fukushima Prefecture, no longer resonates with the lively voices of children. Instead, a bank of computer servers emits hums from […]
Interview with Manuel M. Lopez, Former Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to Japan
Profile: Ambassador Manuel M. Lopez presented his credentials as Philippine Ambassador to Japan to H.M. Emperor Akihito on April 7, 2011. He used to be Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) from 2001 to 2010. He holds many important business posts, including chairmanship of the Lopez Holdings Corporation. Can you […]